During the talks, the Vietnamese Defense Minister affirmed that over the past time, the bilateral defense ties have been expanded continuously and developed more intensively and substantively, deserving to be a key pillar in the bilateral relations. The two sides have obtained outcomes in such areas as the settlement of war legacy, training, military medicine, search and rescue, U.N. peacekeeping operations, and regular consultations in regional forums, particularly within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+). Dialogue, consultation, and exchange mechanisms have been well carried out. In addition, the two sides have effectively maintained the deputy ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue and consultations among naval, army, and air force officers.
Regarding collaboration in the coming time, Gen. Giang suggested the two sides continue to work together to lift the bilateral defense cooperation to a new and effective development phase, in accordance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World, focusing on such areas as all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, the maintenance of annual dialogue and consultation mechanisms, personnel training, collaboration among arms and services, defense industry, technology transfer, war legacy settlement, and U.N. peacekeeping operations. He also emphasized the need to enhance consultation and coordination in multilateral mechanisms that both sides are members, thereby contributing to effectively implementing the ASEAN - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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General Phan Van Giang at the talks |
For his part, the Japanese Defense Minister extended his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese people over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who made significant contribution to strengthening the Vietnam - Japan relations. He strongly believed that this visit would contribute to tightening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World established in 2023 and foster the bilateral defense cooperation in the areas of mutual interest in the coming time.
During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on world and regional issues of mutual concern. Regarding maritime issues, the host emphasized Vietnam’s consistent view of resolving all disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law and regional commitments, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (aka South China Sea) (DOC), while pushing ahead with negotiations for a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
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The two ministers exchange a letter of agreement and a memorandum of understanding regarding Japan’s transfer of two multi-purpose material vehicles in service of search and rescue operations to Vietnam. |
Concluding the talks, the two ministers exchanged a letter of agreement and a memorandum of understanding regarding Japan’s transfer of two multi-purpose material vehicles in service of search and rescue operations to Vietnam.
Within the Vietnam visit, Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru and his entourage laid wreaths in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, visited the Military Technical Academy and exchanged with Vietnamese alumni in Japan, and toured Factory X260 of the Department of Military Weaponry under the General Department of Technical Services.
Earlier the same day, the Vietnamese Defense Minister chaired a welcome ceremony for Japanese counterpart Kihara Minoru.
Translated by Tran Hoai